21. Kentucky
I can’t really knock Kentucky too much for losing to Florida in Gainesville. It was a potential Denzel Aberdeen revenge game, and he scored 19 points, but it was on 8-21 shooting. Not exactly efficient. The Wildcats will need an efficient Aberdeen (and Otega Oweh) if they want to go far in March.
22. Tennessee
Nate Ament. Nate Ament. Nate Ament. The freshman almost single-handedly powered Tennessee’s run of 6 wins in 7 games, and is now living up to the lofty expectations that were placed on him after his dominance of weak non-conference competition.
23. Texas
Sean Miller has gotten this team to turn the corner, and they will be someone that no top seed will want to play in the NCAA Tournament. Matas Vokietaitis is a physical presence who draws fouls at an almost unprecedented rate, and getting opposing frontcourts in foul trouble goes a long way in winning basketball games.
24. Alabama
This team has had to deal with a LOT this season. Granted, they brought some of it upon themselves with the Charles Bediako situation, but they’ve dealt with an insanely difficult schedule (2nd-toughest in the country) while dealing with a myriad of injuries and never knowing who will be in the lineup. Last time out, it was Taylor Bol Bowen who was out, and London Jemison who admirably filled in during a win over South Carolina.
25. BYU
I am very concerned about the Cougars. Their second-leading scorer, and one of the nation’s best 3-point scorers, Richie Saunders, is out for the season. His absence will change the entire gravity of BYU’s offense, but it will funnel more usage and shots to AJ Dybantsa and Rob Wright. Dybantsa will have the ultimate chance to showcase his talents – if this team doesn’t fall off and goes on a run, it will be because of him.
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